Lower Back (Lumbar Spine) MRI (without contrast) cost at US hospitals
MRI lumbar spine without contrast · CPT 72148
$233.59
lowest cash price
$2,080.00
national median
$19,472.20
highest cash price
935
hospitals with a published cash price
Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $233.59–$19,472.20 — the variation is the story.
Median cash price over time
Sep 1, 2025 ($1,293.45) → Sep 1, 2026 ($6,892.74)
By state
| State | Hospitals | Lowest cash | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 4 | $360.00 | $3,650.40 | $4,582.50 |
| Arizona | 22 | $280.37 | $420.56 | $3,462.92 |
| Arkansas | 7 | $561.60 | $1,043.67 | $3,879.00 |
| California | 90 | $607.50 | $2,496.00 | $9,041.79 |
| Colorado | 17 | $305.16 | $5,983.94 | $19,472.20 |
| Florida | 81 | $1,009.60 | $6,544.52 | $18,414.99 |
| Georgia | 25 | $1,422.88 | $1,775.67 | $11,676.27 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $775.36 | $775.36 | $1,747.50 |
| Illinois | 51 | $1,125.00 | $2,997.60 | $4,771.20 |
| Indiana | 26 | $582.60 | $824.50 | $3,235.67 |
| Iowa | 30 | $1,033.50 | $2,598.70 | $5,237.00 |
| Kansas | 11 | $1,431.60 | $4,032.52 | $13,016.93 |
| Kentucky | 26 | $870.84 | $3,066.60 | $16,922.09 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $643.24 | $643.24 | $643.24 |
| Maine | 7 | $1,293.45 | $1,442.30 | $2,554.55 |
| Maryland | 2 | $247.20 | $247.20 | $247.20 |
| Michigan | 27 | $233.59 | $1,902.00 | $4,504.80 |
| Minnesota | 19 | $547.30 | $2,757.60 | $3,237.60 |
| Mississippi | 11 | $263.12 | $992.68 | $1,214.10 |
| Missouri | 20 | $983.40 | $1,613.15 | $12,686.18 |
| Montana | 2 | $1,331.20 | $1,331.20 | $1,956.80 |
| Nebraska | 12 | $1,144.02 | $1,424.64 | $3,965.25 |
| Nevada | 3 | $1,950.95 | $1,960.42 | $2,170.81 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 | $4,362.00 |
| New Jersey | 21 | $264.17 | $467.77 | $678.39 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $2,567.04 | $2,567.04 | $2,567.04 |
| New York | 23 | $286.04 | $286.04 | $6,747.00 |
| North Carolina | 15 | $1,518.00 | $2,013.08 | $4,104.00 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $2,202.40 | $2,202.40 | $3,445.60 |
| Ohio | 54 | $965.20 | $1,497.50 | $4,258.80 |
| Oklahoma | 16 | $924.82 | $1,756.95 | $4,003.00 |
| Oregon | 13 | $262.44 | $1,283.25 | $2,275.50 |
| Pennsylvania | 32 | $454.00 | $1,656.00 | $6,214.20 |
| South Carolina | 11 | $830.50 | $1,342.80 | $7,358.00 |
| South Dakota | 7 | $2,980.80 | $3,198.40 | $3,555.20 |
| Tennessee | 38 | $593.63 | $775.50 | $11,471.75 |
| Texas | 112 | $784.44 | $2,394.15 | $19,070.09 |
| Virginia | 43 | $593.63 | $2,000.00 | $10,641.00 |
| Washington | 32 | $1,057.44 | $1,703.20 | $3,532.20 |
| West Virginia | 17 | $868.50 | $1,417.00 | $3,295.20 |
| Wisconsin | 33 | $1,341.96 | $2,110.00 | $5,058.83 |
| Wyoming | 4 | $800.52 | $1,157.91 | $1,227.35 |
All hospitals
| Hospital | Location | Cash price | Negotiated range |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN JOAQUIN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL | Bakersfield, CA | $1,810.20 | $10.81 – $1,698.00 |
| WHITE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER | MONTEBELLO, CA | $1,816.56 | $85.22 – $11,580.57 |
| CHI Health Good Samaritan | Kearney, NE | $1,821.46 | $239.40 – $2,776.98 |
| Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital | Grand Rapids, MI | $1,830.00 | $237.74 – $427.94 |
| Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital | East Grand Rapids, MI | $1,830.00 | $237.74 – $427.94 |
| Mercy Hospital Berryville | Berryville, AR | $1,842.75 | $105.76 – $1,470.99 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Salem (St. Vincent Salem Hospital, Inc.) | Salem, IN | $1,845.60 | $53.39 – $700.00 |
| Mercy Hospital Carthage | Carthage, MO | $1,862.90 | $105.76 – $1,048.56 |
| Thomas Hospitals | South Charleston, WV | $1,877.50 | $52.50 – $1,152.67 |
| Sunnyside Medical Center | CLACKAMAS, OR | $1,884.45 | $401.00 – $401.00 |
| Westside Medical Center | HILLSBORO, OR | $1,884.45 | $401.00 – $401.00 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Jennings (St. Vincent Jennings Hospital, Inc.) | Vernon, IN | $1,891.20 | $53.39 – $700.00 |
| Corewell Health Pennock | Hastings, MI | $1,902.00 | $402.31 – $402.31 |
| Corewell Health Big Rapids | Big Rapids, MI | $1,902.00 | $237.74 – $427.94 |
| Corewell Health Gerber | Fremont, MI | $1,902.00 | $402.31 – $402.31 |
| Corewell Health Reed City | Po Box 75, MI | $1,902.00 | $402.31 – $402.31 |
| Corewell Health Greenville | Greenville, MI | $1,902.00 | $237.74 – $427.94 |
| Corewell Health Zeeland | Zeeland, MI | $1,902.00 | $237.74 – $427.94 |
| French Hospital | San Luis Obispo, CA | $1,936.48 | $242.46 – $2,111.00 |
| Ascension Calumet Hospital, Inc. | Chilton, WI | $1,945.98 | $75.07 – $181.49 |
| Banner Churchill Community Hospital | Fallon, NV | $1,950.95 | $958.88 – $3,540.48 |
| St Mary's Hospital | Richmond, VA | $1,954.80 | not published |
| Memorial Regional Hospital | Mechanicsville, VA | $1,954.80 | not published |
| St Francis Medical Center | Midlothian, VA | $1,954.80 | $232.80 – $232.80 |
| Richmond Community Hospital | Richmond, VA | $1,954.80 | not published |
| Providence St Joseph Medical Center | Polson, MT | $1,956.80 | $761.98 – $761.98 |
| San Martin Hospital | Las Vegas, NV | $1,960.42 | $118.62 – $6,598.47 |
| Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | $1,965.60 | $105.76 – $1,470.99 |
| St. Clare Hospital | Lakewood, WA | $1,971.40 | $518.84 – $5,129.56 |
| Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital | Hood River, OR | $1,972.50 | not published |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center | Conneaut, OH | $1,977.00 | $2,260.00 – $2,260.00 |
| University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center | Geneva, OH | $1,977.00 | $2,528.00 – $2,528.00 |
| Trinity Medical Center East | Steubenville, OH | $1,981.25 | $1,146.00 – $3,076.15 |
| MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center | Camden, SC | $1,983.50 | $230.64 – $253.70 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Randolph (St. Vincent Randolph Hospital, Inc.) | Winchester, IN | $1,996.80 | $35.16 – $700.00 |
| Mercy Hospital Aurora | Aurora, MO | $1,998.10 | $131.00 – $317.33 |
| Sentara CarePlex Hospital | Hampton, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $244.44 |
| Sentara Princess Anne Hospital | Virginia Beach, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $5,369.86 |
| Sentara Leigh Hospital | Norfolk, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $5,369.86 |
| Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital | Virginia Beach, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $5,369.86 |
| Sentara Obici Hospital | Suffolk, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $5,369.86 |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center | Woodbridge, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $2,020.31 |
| Sentara Norfolk General Hospital | Norfolk, VA | $2,000.00 | $237.46 – $5,369.86 |
| Mercy Hospital Lincoln | Troy, MO | $2,003.30 | $288.48 – $317.33 |
| Atrium Health Anson | Wadesboro, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,824.84 |
| Atrium Health Lincoln | Lincolnton, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,824.84 |
| Atrium Health University City | Charlotte, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,704.06 |
| Atrium Health Mercy | Charlotte, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,704.06 |
| Atrium Health Pineville | Charlotte, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,704.06 |
| Atrium Health Stanly | Albermarle, NC | $2,013.08 | $61.21 – $3,865.10 |